Pages

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

About the book:

Price of Justice is a story about loss, revenge and second chances. This
thriller follows a widowed police detective, Jason Scarsdale who, while
trying to raise a young daughter while solving two murders, unwittingly
befriends a grieving mother secretly bent on murderous revenge, drawing
him into a web of malice that teaches him the value of breaking the
rules. Then, when he thought things couldn't get any worse, they did.

Alan Brenham's interview with Price of Justice's Dani Mueller

In my novel, Price of Justice, I created an anti-hero named Dani Mueller. Today, she has graciously agreed to an interview about her role in Price of Justice.

Brenham: Good afternoon, Dani. Forgive me, do you mind if I address you as Dani or would you prefer Ms. Mueller?

Dani: Dani ist in Ordnung.

Brenham: Umm, our readers are English-speakers and may not understand German. So, if you wouldn’t mind.

Dani: I’m sorry. Dani is fine.

Brenham: You were born in Germany, right?

Dani: Yes, I lived in Garmisch-Partenkirchen until I married an American Air Force officer.

Brenham: Exactly where is Garmisch-Partenkirchen?

Dani: South of Munich right by the Germany-Austria border.

Brenham: Let’s talk about you. How would you describe yourself in two words?

Dani: Resourceful and spirited. Except after Parnell . . .

Brenham: Okay, in Price of Justice, you had quite a rough time . . .

Dani: Yes, no thanks to you.

Brenham: Well, I had to create conflict and suspense so readers would find the book interesting.

Dani: I understand that but you didn’t have to make it that rough. You did some pretty awful things to me. Taking my daughter, the Burtons stalking me, and . . .

Brenham: Wait, Dani. Let’s not tell the readers the story or else they won’t see the need to buy the book. I did do some really nice things to you too.

Dani: Yeah, well, you did introduce me to Jason and his little daughter, Shannon. I just love her. Thank you for that. But you . . .

Brenham: Now, now. Don’t tell the story. Did you know a few readers posted reviews saying they really liked you in Price of Justice?

Dani: They actually said that? Aw, that was so sweet of them.

Brenham: So what did you think of Austin, Texas?

Dani: Next to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Austin is a beautiful city except for the summer heat. Brenham: Now, in Price of Justice, you moved to Austin from Sacramento, California? Dani: Yes, to get away from the Burtons.

Brenham: See, another nice thing I did for you.

Dani: Oh really? Those nice things seemed to have had a way of turning into some really terrible things.

Brenham: Would you like to be a heroine in the sequel?

Dani: That depends. What are you going to do to me?

Brenham: Actually, at this point, I’m not sure. But if you don’t want the job, I could team Jason and his daughter up with someone else.

Dani: Don’t you dare. But I know you’ll do whatever you want, and I’ll just have to endure it.

Brenham: Well, I’ll try to be nicer to you in the next novel.

Dani: I’d appreciate it.

Brenham: What’s one thing you’d like to have happen to you in the next novel?

Dani: Oh, that’s easy. Become Jason’s wife.

Brenham: Okay, our time is up. I want to thank you for stopping by. Is there anything you’d like to say to the readers?

Dani: Yes, except for the rough times, I really loved being a heroine in Price of Justice.

Alan Brenham's interview with Price of Justice's Jason Scarsdale

In my novel, Price of Justice, I created a protagonist named Jason Scarsdale and gave him a job as a detective with the Austin Police Department. Today he has agreed to an interview about his role in Price of Justice.

Brenham: Good afternoon, Detective. From your accent, I’m assuming you were born and raised in Texas. Did I guess that correctly?

Scarsdale: Yes, I was born in Midland, Texas, and grew up in Ft. Worth.

Brenham: Do you enjoy working for the Austin Police Department?

Scarsdale: It has its moments.

Brenham: Meaning what, exactly? That you want to work somewhere else?

Scarsdale: Not necessarily. You won’t beat the pay plus the APD people, the rank and file officers and sergeants . . . and some of the civilians, they are first-rate.

Brenham: And the higher ranking members are not?

Scarsdale: There are a few upper echelon supervisors who are class acts. I don’t want to go beyond that if you don’t mind.

Brenham: Sure. So if you did go somewhere else to work, where would it be?

Scarsdale: Texas Rangers would be great but, now, one has to be a trooper for a number of years before applying for Ranger. So the FBI would be my choice. They have investigative responsibility for a long list of crimes, plus some are posted overseas.

Brenham: How would you describe yourself in two or three words?

Scarsdale: Intelligent and a good father. Oh, sorry, that's five words.

Brenham: Ah yes, father. What was it like having a five-year old daughter to raise on your own?

Scarsdale: After I got to know her better . . . I wasted those first five years of her life being anything but a good father . . . she’s a handful. So much fun to be around. She has more questions about things than any two detectives combined . . . and she's a very considerate young lady.

Brenham: Speaking of ladies, did you enjoy working with Dani Mueller?

Scarsdale: Dani was a very special lady. She definitely had her own agenda and yes, I most definitely enjoyed working with and getting to know her. I just wish things had ended differently in Price of Justice. But, you’re the one calling the shots.

Brenham: Would it make you feel better if I told you a sequel to Price of Justice is in the works?

Scarsdale: Yes, it would. I’d like to make one request . . . for Shannon's sake. She needs a mother-figure. Her overwhelming preference is Dani. Do you think you could see your way to doing that?

Brenham: I won’t promise but in the same breath, I won’t say no either. Getting back to the interview, did you know a few readers posted reviews saying they really liked you in Price of Justice?

Scarsdale: Really? Then the dye is cast . . . you have to publish a sequel soon.

Brenham: I’m working on it but I have another novel to finish first.

Scarsdale: Making someone else's life difficult? Who’s the unlucky person?

Scarsdale: Yes, I am, and I know you don’t want me to go into any details so . . . what’s the title?

Brenham: The title is Cornered.

Scarsdale: What’s the story line for Brady?

Brenham: Missing persons. Now, back to Price of Justice, do you want to work sex crimes again?

Scarsdale: Hell no. I like working homicides.

Brenham: Would you like to be teamed up with Dani again?

Scarsdale: Does a cat have a tail? But the bottom line is you’ll do whatever you want and Dani, Shannon and I won’t have a choice.

Brenham: What’s one thing you’d like to have happen to you in the next novel?

Scarsdale: Catch the bad guys quickly and spend the rest of the time with Shannon at Disney World . . . with Dani too, if that’s in the cards or should I say manuscript.

Brenham: Okay, our time is up. I want to thank you for stopping by. Is there anything you’d like to say to the readers?

Scarsdale: Yes, I paid a high price in your novel, and I’m glad it’s finished. Hope to see y'all again when the sequel comes out.

About the author:

Alan Brenham is the pseudonym of Alan Behr, an author and attorney living in the Austin, Texas area.

His education includes a bachelor's degree from Texas A&I University
and a Juris Doctor degree from Baylor University School of Law.

Alan worked as a law enforcement officer at the municipal, county and federal
levels. His work-related travels include several European and Middle
Eastern countries. He even lived in Berlin, Germany for two years while
working for the Department of Defense.

From 1987 to 2009, he
practiced law as a prosecutor and later as a defense attorney. After
retiring from a legal career with the State of Texas, he began writing
crime fiction novels.

Alan married Dr. Lillian Infantino, a retired
US Army officer and, together they've traveled to Alaska, Central and
South America, and almost every island in the Caribbean.